Transgenic amphibian models for lymphatic vessel development

Abstract

The present invention provides molecular tools for the visualization of the lymphatic vessel system in amphibian. Furthermore, the invention provides assays that allow screening for compounds able to modulate lymphangiogenesis.

1 . A transgenic  Xenopus  comprising a gene that is specifically expressed in the lymphatic vessel system of said  Xenopus.    
     
     
         2 . A transgenic  Xenopus  according to  claim 1  wherein said gene encodes for a reporter gene or a biologically relevant transgene.  
     
     
         3 . A method to produce a transgenic  Xenopus  according to claims  1 - 2  comprising introducing a vector comprising a gene under control of a promoter specifically expressed in the lymphatic vascular system into cells of  Xenopus.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said promoter is selected from the list comprising Podoplanin promoter, Prox-1 promoter, VEGFR-3 promoter and LYVE-1 promoter.  
     
     
         5 . A method for visualizing the lymphatic vessel system in  Xenopus  comprising generating a transgenic  Xenopus  comprising a reporter gene that is specifically expressed in the lymphatic vessel system.  
     
     
         6 . Use of a transgenic  Xenopus  according to claims  1 - 2  to identify a compound capable of modulating lymphatic vessel development comprising: 
 a) contacting said transgenic  Xenopus  with a test compound,    b) comparing the lymphatic vessel system in said transgenic  Xenopus  contacted with said test compound with the lymphatic vessel system of a transgenic  Xenopus  that was not contacted with said test compound and,    c) determining the effect of said test compound on lymphatic vessel development, such that if lymphatic vessel development in the transgenic  Xenopus  contacted with said test compound is different from the lymphatic vessel development in the transgenic  Xenopus  that was not contacted with said test compound, said compound is a modulator of the lymphatic vessel system.